Bracket



June 26, 1951 A E NELSON 2,558,058

BRACKET Filed July T51, 1947 Patented June 26, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE Claims.

The present invention relates generally to supports of the bracket type,and more particularly to a bracket which supports a can opener or otherkitchen utility device optionally either in a xed outwardly extendingoperating position, or in a position against -a wall, or the like, whennot in use.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel bracketconstruction for supporting a can opener or other kitchen utility devicefrom a vertical surface optionally either in a fixed outwardly extendingposition in respect to the supporting wall for can opening operation, orin a position against the wall out of the way when not in use.

Another object is to provide a novel bracket construction whichincorporates a horizontal portion with notched flanges for maintaining aswingingly mounted can opener or the like to the right or to the left ofcenter position and slightly free from a supporting wall or the like toprevent marring thereof.

Another object is to provide a novel bracket construction whichincorporates intereng-aging elements for maintaining a can opener or thelike in a xed position for opening cans or performing other intendedoperations.

Other objects are to provide a novel bracket construction which issimple in construction,

which permits ready pivoting of a can opener, 0r the like, betweenoperative and idle positions, which is easy to utilize to fulladvantage, which may be inexpensively formed, which may be readilyinstalled ior use against any suitable vertical surface such as a wall,door, or the like, and which is of sturdy and substantially rigidconstruction.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from thefollowing description taken with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a stationary element forming part oi thepresent novel bracket construction as exemplied by a preferredembodiment;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View thereof;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a movable element forming part of thepresent novel bracket construction, shown in association with asupported portion of a can opener body, .0r the like;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view thereof;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. '7 is a side elevational View of the stationary element shownmounted on a vertical wall;

Fig. 8 is a front elevational View of the movable element mounted on awall supported stationary element inl operative xed position;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the movable element in assembled relation withthe stationary element and rotated to the right hand out-of-wayposition; and

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. l0 with the movable element rotated tothe left hand out-of-way position.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numerals, I5indicates generally a bracket construction formed in accordance with theteachings of the present invention. The bracket construction l5 includesa composite stationary element I6 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7) and -anassembled movable element El (Figs. 4 through 6). In Figs. 8 through 11the movable element Il is shown in assembled relation with thestationary element I6.

The stationary element I6 includes an angular body member 20 of rightangular form including a vertical portion 2i and a horizontal portion22. A post 23 is supported by the horizontal portion 22 and extendsupwardly therefrom in spaced relation to the vertical portion 2|, as isclearly shown in the drawing. The post 23 has an enlarged annular ring26 disposed on one side of the 'horizontal portion 22 and a peened overhead on the other, which eifectively clamp the horizontal portion 22therebetween. Vertical flanges 28 and 29 are formed along the sides ofthe horizontal portion 22, each of which is cut away to provide notches3i) and 3l, respectively.

The vertical portion 2l of the body 20 includes spaced openings for thereception of mounting screws 36, or the like. Extending forwardly fromthe upper part of the vertical portion 2l are opposed flanges 3l, eachof which includes an upper finger 38 and a lower finger 39, the former'of which is of greater extent than the latter, as is clear from thedrawing. The fingers 38 and 39 include `inwardly directed flanges llland 4I, respectively. As is clear from an inspection of Fig. 1, when theelement I6 is viewed in top plan there exists .a space between each pairof anges 40 and 4|, the spaces being in transverse alignment.

The movable element Il includes identical members each of which includesan arcuate portion 4,6, an attaching portion 4l, and a flange 48. Themembers 45 are secured together to form the movable element l1, and to abody 5.0 of .a can opener, or the like, by suitable rivets extendingthrough openings in the attaching portions 41 and the body 5D. As isclear from Fig. 4, the flanges 48 are disposed in the same plane whenthe members 45 are in assembled relation, and the arcuate portions 48form a sleeve.

The movable element I1 is received on the post 23 with the flanges 48disposed between the llanges 45 and 4l when the supported can opener, orother kitchen utility device, is disposed for use, as is clear fromFigs. 8 and 9. The llanges 48 cooperate with the flanges 45 and 4I toprevent pivotal movement of the movable element I1 about the post 23.When in this relation, the supported can opener extends outwardly fromthe supporting wall 55 to which the stationary element i6 is secured bythe screws 35.

When it is desired to move a supported can opener, or the like, from itsuse position, as just indicated, the movable element I1 is raisedvertlcally until the bottom edges of the flanges 48 clear the top edgesof the flanges 46; whereupon the movable element l1 may be pivotedcounterclockwise or clockwise about the post 23 at the option of theuser to the position shown in Fig. 10 or the position shown in Fig. 1l.The movable element l1 may then be lowered so that the lower edges ofthe attaching portions 41 engage in either the notch 30 or the notch 3|.In the positions of Figs. 10 and ll, the supported can opener, or thelike, is disposed against the wall 55 and out of the way. The notch 3lis shown forwardly disposed in relation to the notch 30 to allow forwall clearance of the handle of a can opener.

f yIt is manifest, therefore, that there has been provided a bracketconstruction which fuliills all the objects and advantages soughttherefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and theaccompanying drawing have been lgiven by way of illustration andexample. It is also to be understood that changes in the form of theelements, rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalentelements, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, arecontemplated as within the scope of the present invention, which islimited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

l. Bracket construction comprising a stationary element includingr abody of angular form having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion,a post supported by said horizontal portion and extending upwardlytherefrom spaced a distance away from said vertical portion, Vand pairsof fingers extending outwardly from said vertical portion spaced adistance away from said vertical portion, each linger including aninwardly directed ilange, and a movable element adapted for attachmentto a can opener, or the like, removably mounted on said post forswinging thereon including laterally extending flanges having oppositesurfaces engaging saidy finger flanges in one position of said movableelement to maintain said movable element against swinging, said movableelement being vertically movable onrsaid out abutment of its flanges andsaid vertical portion.

2. Bracket construction comprising a stationary element including a bodyof angular form having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, apost supported by said horizontal portion and extending upwardlytherefrom, and pairs of fingers extending outwardly from said verticalportion, each linger including an inwardly directed flange, and amovable element adapted for attachment to a can opener, or the like,removably mounted on said post including flanges engaging said lingerflanges in one position of said movable element to maintain saidelements in a nxed relationship, said movable element being verticallymovable on said post to clear engagement of the said several flanges,said movable element in elevated position being 'rotatable to eithersideof operative position to dispose a supported can opener or the likein outof-the-way position, said movable element in rotated positionbeing adapted to be lowered to the same elevation as when the saidseveral flanges are in engagement, said horizontal portion includingnotched ilanges adapted selectively to receive the movable element inlowered rotated position to maintain it and a supported can opener inout-of-the-way position.

3. Bracket construction comprising a stationary element of angle formcomprising a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, said verticalportion including parallel forwardly extending pairs of lingers, onefinger of each pair being shorter than the other, each linger having avertical inwardly directed flange, the flanges of each pair of fingersbeing in spaced vertical planes, and a post mounted on, supported solelyby, and extending upwardly from, said horizontal portion, and a movableelement comprising a pair of duplicate members, means securing saidmembers together, each member including an arcuate portion the two ofwhich form a sleeve, each member also including a securing portion and aange portion, the two flange portions being in a common plane, thesleeve of the movable element being receivable on the post of thestationary element, and the flanges of the movableelement beingreceivable between the finger flanges of the stationary element therebyto relieve said post of bending moments that would otherwise existtherein upon the application of forces tending to rotate the movableelement either direction in a vertical plane.

4. Bracket construction comprising a stationary element of angle formcomprising a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, said verticalportion including parallel forwardly extending pairs of fingers, onefinger of each pair being shorter than the other, each linger having avertical inwardly directed llange, the flanges of each pair of fingersbeing in spaced vertical planes, and a post mounted on and extendingupwardly from said horizontal portion, and a movable element comprisinga pair of duplicate members,

means securing said members together, each member including an arcuateportion the two of which form a sleeve, each member also including asecuring portion and a iiange portion, the two ilange portions being ina common plane, said sleeve of the movable element being receivable onthe post of the stationary element, said anges of the movable elementbeing receivable between the iinger flanges of the stationary elementthereby to preclude rotation of said movable element horizontally aboutsaid post, said movable 5 element being upwardly movable on said post todisengage said several flanges, said movable element being rotatable onsaid post when said several flanges are free to dispose the same and asupported can opener, or the like, in out-of-use position against awall, or the like.

5. Bracket construction comprising a stationary element including a bodyof angular form having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, apost supported by said horizontal portion outwardly from the verticalposition and extending upwardly from the horizontal portion, and pairsof fingers extending outwardly from said vertical portion, one pair offingers being shorter than the other, each iinger including an inwardlydirected flange, said flanges being spaced substantially outwardly fromsaid vertical portion, and a movable element adapted for attachment to acan opener, or the like, removably mounted REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES lPATENTS Number Name Date 1,742,140 Girard et al Dec. 31,1929 2,252,952 Vieth et al Aug. 19, 1941 2,351,531 McLean Jan. 13, 1944

